When you became a parent, your perception of the relative values of everyday things was irrevocably changed. Material possessions no longer mattered, except in terms of how useful they were. They were merely objects, and if they got lost, damaged, or even destroyed, they were easily replaceable.

But this, this tiny, squirming scrap of humanity, this was everything.

Gazing at his daughter, so new she was still slimy, red, and wrinkled, Owen felt as if his heart was being squeezed in a vice. He was terrified; how could he ever keep her safe, protect her from a world teeming with so many things that could harm her? How could he shield her from fear, and pain, and disappointment? He was so completely unprepared, not to mention unworthy of such responsibility.

At the same time, he was so overwhelmed with love for her that he thought he might explode from sheer joy! How could anything ever be more important, more precious, than the new life he and Tosh had created? She was perfect, a jewel, a delicate flower… Ten miniscule fingers, ten tiny toes, a button nose so small and cute, two ears so intricate, he could only marvel at her.

Jack and Ianto, hell, even Rhys and Gwen, had told him he’d feel this way, but he hadn’t really believed he was capable of such intense emotions until the midwife had laid his baby girl in his arms. He was glad he was sitting down, because his legs felt too weak and shaky to support him. All of his strength had been diverted into his arms, so he could hold this little one safe and secure.

Tears blurred his vision, but he was smiling as he tore his eyes away from his baby to look at his wife, lying proud but exhausted on the delivery bed as the nurses made her as comfortable as was possible. Despite the long hours of labour she’d endured, she looked radiant, and he would have hugged her if his arms weren’t already in use.

“I’m a dad!” The tears overflowed and Owen swallowed back a sob. “Thank you, never thought I’d ever be so lucky. I don’t deserve you.”

Tosh laughed wearily. “Don’t be silly, love, of course you do. You’re going to be an amazing dad.”

“I hope so.” Reluctantly Owen surrendered his little girl to the nurses, so she could be thoroughly cleaned and weighed before being handed back to Tosh. His arms felt horribly empty the instant she was gone, and for a moment he didn’t know what to do with himself. In the few short minutes since his daughter entered the world, she’d already become the entire reason for his existence. From this moment on, his sole purpose in life would be to care for her, teach her, guide her, protect her, and be there for her no matter what.

“Told you so,” Ianto said a little later, smirking, as Owen came out of the delivery room, dazed, and grinning like an idiot.

“It’s a girl!” he blurted out. “We have a daughter!”

“Not another one,” Gwen teased. “What is it with our lot that we only have girls? When’s someone going to have a boy?”

“Girls are awesome!” Jack insisted.

Ianto nodded agreement. “Everyone should have a girl first; they’re way easier than boys. Or so Rhi tells me. Girls are only a problem when they start dating boys.”

“Meriel isn’t going on dates until she’s at least fifty,” Jack said firmly. “Ianto says so, and I agree.”

Owen looked horrified. “Oh God, dating! No, no boys, no way, not ever! I know what boys are like!” No boy was ever going to lay a finger on his precious baby girl.

Gwen was laughing. “You say that now, but trust me, when your daughter reaches her teens, she’ll be dating boys whether you want her to or not.”

“Unless she prefers girls,” Jack added. “That’s always a possibility.”

“Aren’t we all getting a bit ahead of ourselves?” Ianto asked, raising an eyebrow. “The baby’s barely even an hour old yet; that’s a bit too young to be worrying about her dating, don’t you think?”

Some of the panic left Owen’s face. “Yeah, thanks, mate. Got a bit ahead of myself there, still got years before Tosh and I have to start worrying about that.”

“Anytime. Have you and Tosh decided on a name yet?”

“Yeah, Lily.” Owen grinned. “Lily May Harper, our little flower.”

“Aw!” Gwen gushed. “That’s lovely!”

“Right!” Jack clapped his hands together. “We should go and let Owen get back to his wife and baby.”

“But we haven’t even seen the baby yet!” Gwen protested.

“I’m sure Owen will email us some photos.” Jack started shooing Gwen towards the waiting room door. “We have our own little girls to get home to, wouldn’t want them thinking the new baby is more important to us than they are.” Jack flashed a grin Owen’s way. “Let us know when you and Tosh are ready to receive visitors, and call us if you need anything at all. As of now, Dr Harper, you are on paternity leave. Go be with your family.”

“Tell Tosh Jack’s stocked your freezer with meals so all you’ll have to do for the next few weeks is grab something out and re-heat it; that way you can both focus on your daughter.” Ianto grinned back over his shoulder as Jack hustled him down the corridor; for the last month, his husband had been making double every time he cooked, then freezing individual portions, which they’d stowed safely in Tosh and Owen’s freezer on their way to the hospital.

Speechless in the face of such thoughtfulness, Owen wondered what he’d done to deserve such good friends.

“That was supposed to be a surprise!” Jack was complaining.

“It’s no good them having all that food if they don’t know it’s there!” Ianto pointed out, and that was the last Owen heard from his friends as they passed through the doors to the maternity unit, which swung closed behind them.

Turning, he headed back in the opposite direction, hurrying to Tosh’s room, his arms already aching for the chance to hold his precious bundle of joy again. He knew it wouldn’t be easy, night feeds, changing nappies, never getting enough sleep, constant worry, but he didn’t care; he was happier than he could have ever imagined. Being a dad was the best feeling in the world, and he was going to be the best dad he could be. His daughter deserved nothing less.


The End